Australian Prime Minister John Howard rejected allegations by another senior military officer that his government was involved in a cover-up over a critical report into defence intelligence.
Naval barrister, Captain Martin Toohey, has joined calls for a judicial inquiry into Australia's intelligence services, accusing the government of despicable conduct in an interview published by The Bulletin magazine.
Toohey investigated allegations against the army's top intelligence officer, Lieutenant Colonel Lance Collins, after he called for a royal commission, complaining of widespread intelligence failures over crucial events like East Timor and Iraq.
Toohey's inquiry not only found Collins' allegations to have been justified but concluded Australia's Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) distorts its assessments to suit government policy and found evidence of a pro-Jakarta lobby within the DIO.
Following Collins' call the government released another report, by Colonel Richard Tracey, which discredited the Toohey report, but was later forced to release a third report by Colonel Roger Brown backing Toohey.
In his first public comments since the scandal erupted two weeks ago, Toohey attacked the government over its treatment of himself and of Collins, saying he believed his reputation had been damaged by the scandal.
"The conduct of the government was, in my view, despicable and duplicitous," he said. "In summary, yet another shabby, tawdry cover-up by the ADF [Australian Defence Force] and the government."
Toohey said he agreed with a call by Collins for a royal commission into the intelligence services.
His statement was the latest in a series of strong attacks on the government and its intelligence services.
Another specialist in military strategy, recently retired Major-General Mike Smith, backed claims last week of failures by the intelligence network.
The US-based Rand Corporation also alleged glaring inefficiencies exist in Australia's spy network caused by inter-departmental rivalry and "jurisdictional jealousy".
Howard, who has repeatedly dismissed calls for a royal commission into the intelligence services, rejected Toohey's criticisms and denied the government had attempted to smear Toohey, saying lawyers often disagree.
"All that happened was that a contrary legal opinion contrary to Capt Toohey's opinion by the Army's senior legal consultant, a Melbourne QC was released," he said.